Mazda Builds a Miata That Rocks Even More

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Mazda Builds a Miata That Rocks Even More

People either get the Mazda MX-5 or they don't. Those who do will love the MX-5 Super20. Those who don't, won't. Their loss. This tricked-out car, built to mark the Miata's 20th anniversary, is bad-ass.

Mazda turned an MX-5 up to 11 for SEMA by stuffing a supercharged Cosworth engine under the hood. It's fitted with a reworked ECU and a Racing Beat stainless steel header and exhaust. Mazda didn't offer any performance specs, but no matter. The Miata always has been about sublime handling, not brute force – a point the car's detractors have never understood.

The MX-5 is no slouch in the twisties, but Mazda tweaked the Super20's suspension with Racing Beat hollow front and rear anti-roll bars and MazdaSpeed coilovers. Then it added a shock tower brace for good measure. Those 16-inch Enkei wheels – an homage to the first-gen car – are wrapped in sticky Toyo R-compound tires. The brake calipers behind them have stainless steel lines and more aggressive pads; the fronts are cooled with SpeedSource ducts.

A hardtop replaced the drop-top and a roll bar improves chassis stiffness. Mazda sprayed the car with "storm gray" paint and black accents, which are carried over into the interior. First-gen door handles are another homage to the car that stole our hearts 20 years ago.

The result of all these mods is a car reminiscent of a Spec Miata in general bad-assness. Yes, we know there are a lot of cars that can run circles around the MX-5. But you'd be hard-pressed to find something with so intoxicating a combination of predictable handling, usable power and joie de vivre.

The Super20's a one-off, which is a shame. Mazda oughtta offer it as a special edition. It undoubtedly would sell every one it built.